Carbon County Fire District under consideration

Carbon County has approximately 137 fire fighters responding to fire and rescue emergencies within the county. Carbon County Fire Department operates county-owned fire stations in Hanna, Muddy Gap, Rock Creek, Ryan Park, Rawlins and contracts fire protection for Baggs and Medicine Bow, according to the fire district website. Carbon County Fire Department also has equipment located in Elk Mountain, Encampment, Saratoga, and Sinclair.

Current fire departments provide fire protection for structural fires, woodland fires, highway rescues and extrications, water rescues, emergency medical first responders, hazardous materials response and public education. They also provide response to industrial fires and emergencies including confined space rescues. Carbon County Fire Departments cover 7,964 square miles.

Budget constraints and shortages make it very difficult to fund these services. A fire district will add sustainable funds and could help make up for the rise in costs and fluctuations of the current county revenues.

The advantages of a county-wide fire protection district would not only mean sustainable funding that is generated specifically for fire and rescue, but would also guarantee adequate funding for the purchase, maintenance and rotation of fire apparatus and rescue tools. This would also provide adequate funding for purchase and rotation of personal protective equipment.

Developing a centralized communication plan with consistent equipment from station to station as well as consistent and centralized training for fire personnel would greatly enhance the ability of Carbon County fire fighters to do their jobs safely and fully skilled.

A fire district would also provide the opportunity for strategic planning for personnel and resources during times of heightened needs.

Other considerations, according to the Carbon County Fire District website, include the task of balancing the needs of the County and balancing a budget to support the needs and services of the county. This task is the responsibility of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners.

Other points to consider are that by Statute, Carbon County is not required to provide fire or rescue services. By law, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) has to give statutory requirements higher priority than non-statutory requests. Doing the right thing is becoming more difficult with the rise in costs for services and a decline in revenue.

There are no guarantees for county revenues and eventually with those revenues declining, the commissioners will have to cut services. Declining revenues also lead to less grant money and more competition for the grants that are still available.

The future of fire service in Carbon County is very uncertain. The number of residents willing to volunteer is a very real issue that is affecting all nonprofit services. Litigation is another huge issue for government which in turn has caused more stringent certification requirements, making it difficult to maintain personnel.

Municipalities may chose to participate in a petition to get the district onto the ballot and be included in the district if it passes. They may also choose not to participate and contract with the district if passed according to the website.

Only property owners and businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county will pay for the fire protection district on the November 8, 2022 ballot. There is a chart on the website showing the annual and monthly costs, based on home values. For example, a home valued at $300,000 would cost $85.50 per year, a monthly cost of $7.13.

If passed, tax statements would be sent out September 2023 to property owners and businesses in the unincorporated areas of Carbon County. Beginning October 2023, the county treasurer will collect and remit taxes to the taxing entity every month through July 2024. The election of the initial board of directors will be held by the BOCCC at the same time as the election for the formation of the district. The 5-member fire district board will include residents living within the district. They will also serve with no compensation. The board will select a President and Secretary/Treasurer within 10 days after the election.

In 2014, this special district was voted on and failed by 82 votes.

For more information you can go to the website at carboncountyfiredistrict.com/funding.

There will also be several public meetings beginning September 22, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Baggs Community Center. Encampment will host the next public meeting at 6 p.m. September 28 at the Opera House. That same evening, Saratoga will host their meeting at the Platte Valley Community Center at 7:30 p.m.

September 29, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a public meeting in Medicine Bow at the Community Center.

Hanna will host their public meeting on October 6, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hanna Recreation Center. The final public meeting being held in Rawlins at the Carbon County Higher Education building on October 13, 2022 at 6 p.m.